An extraordinary 2020
Friends,
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed so much about our lives. Today, all of Team Bethesda continues to be engaged in the effort to protect the health and well-being of people we support, our employees and our communities.
We’ve done all we can right from the beginning. As our homes began to shelter in place and we closed our day programs, we made a commitment to frequent and open communication. We have held dozens of live town hall meetings with parents, guardians and employees to explain developments and answer questions.
We also immediately considered ways to keep people active and engaged through technology. We have connected parents and guardians with their loved ones through Zoom video chats and provided a connection to faith via online resources. We further developed a robust series of online classes and events for the homes, including a weekly nationwide dance party—which will continue once COVID-19 passes.
Yes, as hard as it may seem to believe, this will pass. Looking ahead to that time, we are continuing to develop new and innovative programs to promote independence. You can read about progress we have made on Bethesda Cornerstone Village in Victoria, Minnesota. We also are committed to promoting the need to include people with disabilities, and while Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month in March was cut short by COVID-19, this important work continues.
For now, I encourage you to visit our Events and Resources section for frequently updated information about COVID-19. Additionally, please know that while we are committed to doing all we can for the people we support, we face a significant and ongoing financial challenge. More than ever, we will need your help. We cannot do what we do without you.
Thank you for your support of Bethesda’s mission. Please stay safe and healthy.
Regards,
Mike Thirtle, PhD
President & CEO Bethesda
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
– Galatians 6:2 NIV